British Columbia Premier Christy Clark speaks as she attends her official nomination meeting for the Vancouver-Point Grey riding in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday April 13, 2013. A provincial election campaign begins Tuesday with British Columbians heading to the polls May 14.

Photograph by: DARRYL DYCK
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Premier Christy Clark did her best to appear approachable yet authoritative in a half-hour television address Sunday, focusing on big-picture issues such as eliminating the provincial debt, stimulating the economy and defeating the NDP.

The TV spot, which cost the Liberals $100,000 and aired at 7 p.m., following the Masters golf tournament on Global TV, wove between endorsements from big-name supporters and segments featuring Clark — alternately looking commanding and casual as she spoke behind a podium or held kaffeeklatsches with supporters while out in the community.

Clark’s leadership was front and centre, as was her plan to make the provincial government debt-free within 15 years, financed by the projected benefits of liquefied natural gas production. Conversely the election ad wasted no opportunity to warn that a return to the NDP would mean a repeat of the 1990s and certain economic ruin for the province.

MLA Carole James, former leader of the B.C. NDP, said the television special added “nothing new” to the Liberals’ election strategy and even contained false statements.

“She talked about her jobs plan and didn’t mention the 30,000 jobs that have been lost since the plan has been in place,” James said. “She spent a lot of time focused on the past and then when she talked about her new commitments, and her commitments to the public, they simply aren’t true.

“So, I thought it was an interesting use of 30 minutes of television time.”

A parade of high-profile supporters, including Vancouver Canucks assistant director of player personnel Dave Babych, Lululemon CEO Christine Day and former Conservative MP Stockwell Day, made appearances to praise Clark’s economic prowess.

An introduction by former TV anchor and Clark’s director of outreach, Pamela Martin, characterized the May election as a clear choice between the pragmatic Liberals and the fiscally irresponsible NDP.

Clark’s first appearance showed her holding court with a group of multi-generational, multicultural supporters in a diner-like setting.

“To me, the nature of leadership is sticking to your guns and it’s holding true to the values you were raised with and your principles, and that’s what I’ve tried to do for the last two years,” Clark began.

“If I am granted the privilege of another four years as premier, the No. 1 priority is going to be making sure that our economy is working for the people of British Columbia.”

Clark went on to recall her own childhood in Burnaby in a middle-class family headed by a father who would have been “ashamed to leave us with a penny of debt.”

She spoke of her goal to leave a debt-free province as a legacy for families and children.

Then came the first of the “On the road with Christy” segments, a collection of classic campaign scenes wherein Clark opened the rodeo in Williams Lake, glad-handed post-secondary students and Rolled up the Rim with supporters at the local Tim Hortons.

Laced throughout was a running tally of Liberal accomplishments — job growth, government efficiencies and restrained spending — and endorsements from within Clark’s cabinet. Finance Minister Mike de Jong praised Clark’s “steely determination.”

Transportation Minister Mary Polak touted the premier’s softer side. “She also has a mother’s wisdom, she can be soft at the times when that’s necessary and there’s a little tender loving care that’s needed,” said Polak.

The program detoured through B.C.’s economic climate in the 1990s, describing in dark tones the province’s descent into “have not” status at the hands of the NDP. It glossed over the Liberals’ recent ethnic voter scandal in favour of a focus on overarching economic issues.

“We got the big things right,” Clark often refrained.

She urged voters to stay the course and introduce the party’s platform: Strong Economy, Secure Tomorrow, to be released today, providing a sneak peek into the document by revealing a goal to reach a 10-year deal with teachers.

It closed with a reminder that, despite polls showing Clark’s sagging approval ratings, the election isn’t decided until the votes are counted on May 14.

A sentiment echoed by Brad Bennett, co-chair of the Liberals’ election planning committee who noted his family’s political history is a testament to the quick shifts that can occur in B.C. politics.

“My granddad (W.A.C. Bennett) and my dad (Bill Bennett) won nine elections between the two of them, and they weren’t running ahead all the time,” he said.

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British Columbia Premier Christy Clark speaks as she attends her official nomination meeting for the Vancouver-Point Grey riding in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday April 13, 2013. A provincial election campaign begins Tuesday with British Columbians heading to the polls May 14.

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